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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / The Yoruba And Their Exemplary Greeting Etiquette (2264 Views)
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The Yoruba And Their Exemplary Greeting Etiquette by AleXis0r(m): 7:16pm On May 27, 2015 |
Recently I was at a relative’s naming ceremony overseas where there were Yorubas, other Nigerians, and non- Nigerians. Every now and then, an elderly relative, the baby’s grandmother, would walk around greeting and appreciating the guests for their presence. It became obvious the guests were amazed by such unusual act of courtesy. My elderly relative, perceiving their curiosity, turned to the guests and remarked, “You might wonder why I keep greeting you since you’ve been here, it is the Yoruba culture to regard guests during a ceremony or an event. In fact, the Yorubas have a salutation for every encounter or experience in life.” The sparkle in the guests’ eyes signaled that they desired to know more of such charming etiquette. This experience reminded me of a book that I had read sometime ago about an American gentleman who lived in Yorubaland between 1859 and 1860, he wrote of his experience: “There are not a more affable (pleasant) people found anywhere than are the Akus (Yorubas). Not even Frenchmen are more thorough in their attention to politeness than the Akus. Two persons, even strangers, hardly ever pass each other without exchanging salutations…” The Yorubas have an appropriate salutation for every occasion, for instance: Aku aaro (good morning); aku ale (good evening); Aku ise (for being industrious); Aku abo (for returning from a journey or an outing); Aku ile (greeting someone who has been at home); Aku atijo (long time, no see); Aku ijoko (for sitting down); Aku iduro (for standing); Aku iroju (for expressing sympathy); Aku eru (for carrying a load or bearing a burden); Aku alejo (for entertaining a visitor or a stranger); Aku inawo (for being generous); Aku oriire (congratulation s); Aku faaji (for relaxation); Aku odun (for festivity); Aku aajo (appreciation to someone showing sympathy); Aku otutu (for cold weather); Aku ooru (for heat); Aku idele (greeting a family whose member is on a sojourn). So rich is Yoruba’s style of greetings that it goes indefinitely and this explains why the Yorubas, home and overseas, were historically known as the Akus. Aku igba yi o. Ijoba tuntun yii atuwa lara o By: Adegolu AD Source: Proudly Yoruba @facebook |
Re: The Yoruba And Their Exemplary Greeting Etiquette by indiraserv: 7:18pm On May 27, 2015 |
Interesting piece. These days they say more of Eku and not Aku Indiraserv |
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